President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said his administration was expanding the homegrown school feeding programme by targeting additional three million children for a free daily meal.
He made the disclosure at an event to mark the 2021 Children’s Day celebration organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Social Development Secretariat in Abuja.
Represented by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, the President said the menace of out-of-school children was being given attention through a comprehensive programme where the affected kids are enrolled in school and supported to continue their education wherever they are.
He disclosed that a full range of social intervention programmes would be deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to achieve the vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.
Buhari noted that the goal was to ensure that in the next 10 years, there would be less out-of-school children and more infants exposed to quality nutrition.
The Nigerian leader called on state governments and security agencies to rededicate themselves to the Safe School Declaration project to safeguard the kids against attacks.
He directed MDAs, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), international partners, religious leaders, traditional rulers, teachers and parents to ensure total protection and development of the children.“The Nigerian child remains the most treasured goal for peace and a productive nation,” Buhari added. (Guardian)